Number one rule: don’t compare.
Meet model Bree Warren (Jag Models) of The Wave Provocateur who has taken the plus-size modeling industry by storm. Now we follow her journey as she travels along the world, excited for her next tropical destination.
Tell us about your upbringing in Australia? How was our childhood? What did you do for fun?
Childhood in Australia rocked! The climate allows you to be outside most of time and I loved that. I had a pool, trampoline and swing in the backyard. I thought I was a killer rollerblader so that was always my go-to mode of transport around my neighborhood. I come from a sporty family so I played a million different sports growing up but probably spent the most time doing swimming and basketball.
When and how did you start surfing?
I had always spent a lot of time at the beach and I remember basically idolizing any girl I saw with a surfboard. When I was 13, I found one of dad’s old boards in my grandparents garage at Burleigh Heads. It was old and dirty so I sat outside with a butter knife scratching the wax off. It was a short board and possibly the worst board to learn on so I didn’t even stand up for ages but I still used to cart it round with me everywhere.
How did you and your bf meet?
We met at The Beach Hotel in Byron Bay when our friends joined tables. I clocked him at the end of the table straight away.
“I guess I have always been a little bit obsessed for tropical beach and ocean photos.”
What inspired the Wave Provocateur?
I guess I have always been a little bit obsess for tropical beach and ocean photos. Mitch and I spent all of our spare time travelling to surf destinations and so we had this growing collection of travel photos! We also found it hard to research destinations and we weren’t getting the information we wanted online. Most of the surf travel content is male orientated or aimed at backpackers, so we wanted to fill that gap a little bit but with our own spin on it. It seems crazy that the vast majority of people travel in couples but only a handful of sites cater to it. We have shot everything on our site ourselves so it’s really important to us that we feature locations that we have actually stayed at and enjoyed.
What have you learnt from traveling and what from modeling?
I think they go hand in hand. As a model you deal with new cities, different cultures and most of the time you have whole new crew on set everyday. When you’re travelling you’re meeting new people and having new experiences so in that way it’s similar. I think I was always pretty easy going and adaptable but my life now has definitely put that to the test. I probably should have learnt to pack light by now but I don’t know if I’m there yet. Trying!
Is it difficult balancing them both? Is it easy to take time off?
I wouldn’t say it’s easy to take time off but I really make a point of trying to see new places and surf destinations. I probably take a little bit too much time off. I’m sure my agents want to kill me sometimes! I think I am allowed to get away with it because when I work, I work hard to compensate. Haha that’s what I’m telling myself anyway! It does get hectic juggling my schedule sometimes because everything is last minute and it’s constantly changing so that is the hardest part about my work.
If you could tell yourself something from when you first started modeling what would you say?
Never let the business sway you from who you are and what you want to be. Modelling is a bit of a game and I really like playing it but you have got to do it your way. Number one rule: don’t compare.
